Lucknow Sentinel, 2009-11-04, Page 8Bruce County trying to solve giant hogweed problem
From page 1
That avenue will
allow the munici-
pality to tackle the
nuisance weed on
both public and pri-
vate 'land, LaForest
said.
Giant Hogweed is,
10 times worse than
poison ivy, said
county forester Ken
Goldsmith, who
described it as a
stubborn weed that's
hard to fight.
The towering
plant can reach 10
feet in height and its
juice can cause
severe blisters and
burns on skin.
"We've offered
advice . and assis-
tance to (municipal-
ities) and skills in
terms of identifying
it and helping them
come up with a
plan, LaForest
said.
But an earlier
effort to consult- on
a strategy drew little
response.
"What we're try-
ing to do is get a
representative from
each municipality
and we'll seeif we
can address it on a
county -wide basis
by dealing with it on
a municipal front,"
said Goldsmith.
"I can't control it
all. It's impossible
with my.futding."
"I can assist them
and go do . public
education work or
supply (the prod-
uct)," he said.
"I have sprayers
who can do the
work but it all :costs
money," Goldsmith
said.
Patches are show-
ing up all over the
county, spread by
water -borne seeds
and gardeners who
plant it as a novelty.
"The answer is
public education
and .dealing with
each individual on a
one-on-one basis,"
Goldsmith said.
"An ,body. that
I've met with on
this issue, any pri-
vate landowner has
been more than
willing to take care
of the problem. It's
just that they don't
know ' what they
have."
Signs
Bruce county is
going to the next
step with a county-
wide sign program.
The program goal
is to have distinc-
tively styled signs
and a consistent
system that will
point travellers to
locations and attrac-
tions - and carry
unique community
logos:
"Which means
that visitors will be
greeted at the entry
points -to the county
and it will follow
them right through
to exactly where
they want to go with
absolute .ease," said `.
tourism manager
Chris Hughes.
Directions for
visitors are crucial,]
Hughes said, but so
far Bruce is alone in
tackling signage in
a consistent county
wide format.
It took four years
to come up with
signs for pilot proj-
ects that are soon to
be launched in
Kincardine and
Saugeen Shores..
That's because
locating highway
sighs and identify-�
ing attractions is an
exacting job that
involves a surpris-
ing number of agen-
cies and volume of
bureaucracy,
Hughes said.
"Now we under-,
stand .why: Ontario
as a whole doesn't
want to touch this
issue. It is an
. extremely challeng-
ing issue to get
down to exactly
where does a sign at
the side of the road
go," he said.
At the same time,
demand for the
hugely -popular
Bruce county map
proved how desper-
ately visitors need
better directions to
places and attrac-
tions.
"When we
brought our Grey -
Bruce map .out that
was the perfect sign
that ' things were
broken and people
want a map to know
where they are
going," Hughes said
about how tourism
operators realized
they've been taking
it for granted that
visitors know how
to get where they
want to go.
"They' . want a
map because there.
are no signs."
The next step will
be a: pilot of rural
"signage using a
stretch of county
highway.
Other regions of
Ontario are watch-
ing Bruce county's
project, and Hughes
predicted they will
be tapping the coun-
ty for expertise once
it's complete.
"We are pushing
the envelope in
Ontario and maybe
even in Canada.
We're very com-
fortable with shar-
ing our experience
once we get some
signs on the ground
and the bugs
worked out _ of it,"
he said.
"We're going to
be a leader for
sure.
Stimulus
money
u c e.
Community Futures
is eager to distribute
its share of. the
recent federal eco-
nomic -stimulus
money for southern
Ontario
The $450,000
allocated last week
can be used for five
different programs
aimed at business,
training and non-
profit ventures said
Community Futures
spokesperson.�_.-
Amanda Farrell.
Economic devel-
opment staff
worked for years : to
get a share . of feder-
al financial support,
Farrell . told Bruce
county council.
That effort paid off
m recent days with
two economic
development
groups in the area
getting a , share of
the $30 million fed-
eral fund.
"It's a very excit-
ing opportunity,"
Farrell said, •"The
'more we are able to
do with these funds,
the more opportuni-
ty there. is for the
funds to continue
(in future years)."
Neighbouring
Saugeen .Economic
Development
Corporation got
$500,000, and is
urging businesses
and entrepreneurs to
submit applications
for projects that will
make use of the
funding and lever-
age employment
and economic..::
growth m the .area.
Deadline for those
applications ; is Oct.
30.
B r u c e
Community Futures
doesn't have that
deadline, but Farrell
said the new federal
money is allocated
on a first come first
served basis, and
has . to be spent by
March 2010.
c?
North Duron FIu Vaccine.Clinics
Faniaz ileoll1+ Trim
H1 NI vaccine for the following_ priority groups only who are patients
Of Dr. Marie Gear, Dr. Bonnie Marshall, Dr. Shaun Marshall, Dr. Mark
Moores, Dr. Greg. Antoniadis or Dr. Mike Shubat:
• Residents with a chronic medical condition 6 months.— 64 years old •
(diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, liver disease, conditions that
weaken your immune system)
• Household contact and care providers of infants under 6 months of
age or persons who have conditions that weaken the immune system
• Healthy children 6 months -4 years old
• Ail pregnant women with pre-existing health conditions
• Healthy pregnant women in the second half of their pregnancy (more
than 20 weeks)
If you are a patient of:
Location
Time
Dr. Gear
Teeswater Medical Clinic
Tues. Nov. 3, 2-7 pm
Dr. B. Marshall
Dr. S. Marshall
Dr. Moores
Or. Antoniadis
Wingham Medical Clinic `
Wed. Nov. 4, 2.7 pm
Dr. Shubat
Lucknow Medical Clinic
Thur. Nov. 5, 2-6 pm
NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY JUST COME DURING THESE T
THE CLINIC OF THE DOCTOR YOU ARE A PATIENT OF.
H- : th
a.. a.rtiiY .r. • _
Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, November 4, 2009 - Page 7
Lr ��� •� r� j%r - •
Roto by`:Garit Reid
Steve (left) and Joan Chamney (middle) accept the Lutknow.and
District Chamber of Commerce Community Service award
plaque from Chamber of Commerce president Joan Nelson
(right) for the amount of volunteer work they did in Lucknow in
,2008.They co-chaired the 2008 Lucknow Reunion and have -run
. the annualTerry Fox Run in Lucknow for the past nine years.
Lucknow Minor Hockey would like to thank the following
for their sponsorship of the new minor hockey. jerseys:
Tyke - Ron Alton Tyke Tournament, Lucknow Service Centre, 2008 Bruce
International Plowing Match.
Novice - Omni Insurance Goderich, Silver Springs, Mike Metske, Ross Family
Farms:
Atom - Allan. Murray 3 on 3 Tournament (Ludknow Kinsmen), Lucknow Auto
Parts, Snowden Insulation
Peewee - Lucknow Legion, Smyth Welding, Kenkor Construction
Bantam Girls - Bad Apples Hockey Team, Elliott Fence & Rail, Porters
Can Print Custom Clothing - Bob Raymond
Retailer of new minor hockey jerseys
1z
our tliviOil Monks to em'r r one m making oiir
I? /Mated Our Hemet Rai/ othon a alarms.
it a (//Ip,relate yaw. sigpporrra tithing $77,045 towanis
our •O a/ gt$1(X1, O9/» tr C(Mtioreape and Pardriltlzc Cutoiiow vpe.
ffvu cru 3fetl the rrirlrothoa,'vu jportour pia, 'rt
bi•mailitteourdtere to M.
tr`eeitetidmil. .S,(h(ialThank Mit toChAVXRadio aitr.920,
13/10,. " The One and The Bid/ 94:) IMf irSpon o/7.1# rine
AntilloICICA' '.ffealth ewe IIeirmt Radiothort.
.440 ow•.Sposia/.Thankr to the u inghom /biro ne-Tintesrr
thein (metro? andhtivert'sing/it r/m mo
Againlitany Thn»Xsf»' 1 un•S'vprr'
Boon/ qpitraots
fl y ingha,I! and DM/ria llo..flaital foundation -
270 Calling 7 rma,
It/Ingham, Ontario NOG 21t •O
? r ,